BC pills and IBS
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| Tue, 09-25-2007 - 1:23pm |
Hello Everybody!
This is my first time posting on this particular message board. I have already read tons of wonderful posts that have really helped me...and have made me see that I am not alone.
I had suffered with IBS symptoms for many years. I was never formally diagnosed but had all the tell-tale signs: bloating, inability to fully eliminate, mucus in stool, alternating diarrhea and constipation, etc. The usual culprits. After college I went off of my Birth Control pills.....and wouldn't you know it....the IBS had all but disappeared. It didn't disappear completely as I am lactose intolerant to begin with...but it DRAMATICALLY decreased. The pills also caused other scary side effects. I was so glad to be rid of them. I felt like me again!! =)
Cut to a few months ago. I am diagnosed as having ovarian cysts and urged to begin BC pills again. Well, as you can imagine I was very hesitant. But my doctor was quite adamant about me going on them. So I did. Within two days I was having the worst IBS symptoms of my life. It's left me very sad. I'm scared to leave my house now and be in social situations. I'm such an outgoing person. I'm an actress and I like to be around people....but lately I panic at the mere thought. On days when I have to be on set for long hours, I feel like I'm stuck in a bad dream. My stomach is bloated and gurgling and I feel a constant need to go to the bathroom. But when I finally go....all that comes out is air and (excuse the candor) mucus. So I go back and rejoin the group only to feel the same. The effort I make to not pass gas is such that it's painful. Just horrible.
It's so frustrating that these symptoms could affect our lives in this way. We aren't free to just "be."
I've been reading up on IBS and related disorders and decided to start taking Probiotics to see if that might help. I believe it's thought to aid in the whole BC pill thing. I think they may be constipating me a little. Also, I thought I would try cutting out Wheat and Gluten to see if that helps. Has anyone else tried these things? Have they worked? I also bought the digestive enzymes, but I haven't started taking those yet. Should I? How about colon hydrotherapy (colonic) ,Gut Directed Hypnotherapy, or acupuncture? Has anyone tried these?
Please, if anyone has any thoughts...or can offer suggestions for a certain remedy or treatment, I would so greatly appreciate it. I don't want to live my next few years in the bathroom. I want to be me again! Thank you all so much for reading this post. I really look forward to hearing your stories and your suggestions. My best wishes.....

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Relief after 60, huh?
MISSMOLLY22,
I understand all the pains and discomforts you are going through!
I have had IBS since I was about 16 or so... it is an ongoing struggle. In answer to your questions, I have tried MANY different things to relieve and/or cure my symptoms. I tried going to a Naturalpath Dr who put me on digestive enzymes, and ya know what? They really helped!! They didn't completly alleviate symptoms but I noticed a HUGE difference! they are called DGL-PLus, and contain such things as (hope I spell this right) Deglycyrrhizinated licorice extract, musa paradisiaca (unripe banana plantain), ulumus fulva (slippery elm extract), and althaea officinalis (marshmallow root extract). These are things are generally supposed to aid in digestion.
I have tried acupunture for many different reasons and I find it is very helpful, BUT you have to keep going back!
I tried cutting out wheat and gluten because it was thought I perhaps had Celiac's Disease.... but I did not. I do however notice that wheat and /or gluten products for me were more gas and bloating producers.
I have heard of colon hydrotherapy but it was not recommended for me, the reason being if there is an irritaion in your intestines that process could possibly make it flare up more intensely.
As far as birth control pills, they frustrate me too! I have thought there was a possible correlation between taking them and some of my stomach problems, and don't you know... recently I had to switch birth control pills (to one called YAZ). It is a different kind of hormone and is used often for being with BAD PMS. I had lots of irritability and bloating before my period before. Now on this pill those symptoms are GONE! However, I noticed since the 4 months I have been on these pills, my stomach problems have DRAMATICALLY decreased! I used to worry
Hi Everyone!!
Hi Maria!
Hi Everyone,
I have never posted here but have had IBS on and off for 10 years. I also think that my IBS was worse around my period, usually the week before and the week of. I was also on BC and then I thought it was causing IBS problems, so I quit and used nothing. I got married and had a baby and BF for a year so no BC was needed, I did go on the mini pill but didn't need it.
Now I went back on birth control (the nuva ring) and I have horrible IBS. My worst is the diarrhea. It is so bad, I can't eat anything without going.
I think I am going to try going off BC and see if that helps.
J
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